Avenging Shadows - Part 35

Barnabas Collins slowly opened his eyes as his conciousness returned.

"What happened?", he said quietly.

"Ah, you awaken, Mr. Collins", a voice boomed out.

Barnabas glanced around and saw his associates all imprisoned and being held in various ways before looking towards the sound of the voice.

"Welcome to hell", the voice boomed, coming from a large, red entity. "I am Mephisto!"

"What the devil...?", another voice was heard from as Quentin started to stir.

"Yes, I am", Mephisto sneered. "And what a delightful catch for the day", he smiled. "I only set out to catch a misguided vampire and his cousin, the werewolf... and look at my prizes now."

Mephisto walked around and smiled as he made his comments.

"The witch, Agatha Harkness", Mephisto smiled. "A true prize for any lover of the magical arts."

Agatha Harkness, bound to a wooden stake, with her mouth gagged, could only scowl at the underworld ruler.

Memphisto then moved up next to The Scarlet Witch, who was also bound in a manner that prevented her from moving her hands, and thus nullfying her mutant hex powers.

"And the lovely Scarlet Witch... a true beauty", Mephisto smiled as he stroked the side of her face.

"And the coup-de-gras", Mephisto squealed with delight. "Not only do I have the Celestial Madonna herself, but also the Celestial Messiah."

Both Mantis and Jacques scowled at the demon from their transparent prison.

"And of course, my original targets, the infamous Collins, Barnabas and Quentin", Mephisto snickered with delight.

"What about Julia... where is she, you red-faced son of a bitch!", Quentin scowled.

"Watch that language, mortal... or you may end up going to hell when you die!", Mephisto sneered gleefully. "Oh wait, you're already here. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! But your Dr. Hoffman is here. And she has been the most charming of bait!"

With a movement of his arms, Mephisto waved towards the end of the vast chamber that held them all and a woman's body was pulled forth and landed on the ground at his feet with a loud crash.

"Get up, you bovine swine", Mephisto smiled as he grabbed the woman by the hair and lifted her to her feet.

The woman sobbed and cried, but apart from some bruises, appeared to be fairly healthy.

"Can it be... Julia?", Barnabas sad quietly.

The woman lifted her head at the sound of the vampire's voice and looked in the direction of the dark-cloaked prisoner.

"Barnabas? Is that... oh God! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!", the woman, Dr. Julia Hoffman sobbed.

"Aw, isn't this touching", Mephisto smiled. "A reunion between the vampire and his murderous whore!"

"If you've hurt her...", Barnabas started to say, but Mephisto cut him off.

"Hurt her? She's dead, vampire! And my toy! I've hurt her and I'll hurt each and every one of you, for as long as I desire... because I can and it's so much fun!"

"What do you want, Mephisto?", the Scarlet Witch questioned their captor.

"Ah yes, another party heard from. What do I want? I'm Mephisto? I just want to play with your souls for a few thousand years."

"But you can't hold us here without some form of contract or consent", Wanda countered.

"Maybe I can and maybe I can't", Mephisto said. "But right now, I believe I have the upper hand!"

"Maybe you do", Quentin countered, "but maybe you don't?"

"What do you mean, fool?", Mephisto spat out. "Do not play games with me!"

"Just saying that if you were to face one or two of us in a fair battle, you'd get your fuzzy red butt handed to to and you know it", Quentin retorted.

"Do you know who I am, mortal", Mephisto sneered.

Mephisto waved his arms and Quentin was pulled towards him, instantly free of his bonds, but held by the throat by the demonic ruler.

"Quentin... no!", Barnabas yelled as he tried to move forward, but was held securely by his bonds.

"Where are your comments now, fool", Mephisto cackled as he held Quentin up in the air by the throat. "What did you say about beating me?"

"I said you're a jack-ass", Quentin smiled.

And with that, Quentin's form began to morph and change and instead of a man, Mephisto found himself holding a large man-wolf, who raked and clawed at the demon with his razor sharp talons.

"Curses", Mephisto screeched as he dropped the enraged werewolf.

Momentarily free, the man-wolf known as Quentin Collins surveyed his situation. He knew that alone, he was no match for the demonic Mephisto, so his goal was to free the others and get help. Moving far too quickly for the eyes to follow, he leaped over to the barrier that held Mantis and her son, Jacques. With a great effort, using all of his supernaturally based strength, he managed to pull the door open.

"Mantis... free Agatha", he managed to whisper out through clenched teeth. "Jacques, teleport... get help!"

Mantis gave her son a quick nod of approval before using her absolute contol of her body to leap forward, barely dodging a blast of hellfire from the enraged Mephisto.

Jacques concentrated and vanished in a ball of energy and light.

"Where did the whelp go?", Mephisto screamed as he shot more blasts of energy at Quentin and Mantis, who used their agility to just barely dodge the bolts of hellfire.

Mantis, moving quickly, made her way over to where Agatha Harkness was bound and gagged and quickly removed the gags and ropes.

"Free the others", Agatha gasped out. "While I show Mephisto that he's not the only one with power!"

"Power, old woman?", Mephisto sneered. "I am the very personification of evil! I am power supreme. There is nothing that you can do to harm me!"

"So you say", Agatha smiled as she cast spell after spell at the large, red figure, only to see him deflect and shrug off her best efforts.

"So I know", Mephisto laughed as he countered with a powerful blast of energy that cut through the elderly woman's shields and sent her tumbling to the hard ground.

"You are a fool to challenge me, witch", Mephisto smiled as he stood over the older woman.

"She didn't challenge you", voice rang out from behind. "She only sought to stall and distract you."

"What...?", Mephisto shouted as he turned.

There, standing together were Quentin Collins, Barnabas Collins, The Scarlet Witch and Mantis.

"She distracted you while Quentin and Mantis freed Barnabas and myself", the Scarlet Witch explained. "And now that we're free of your bonds, care to try this again?"

"As you wish, witch", Mephisto sneered as he sent forth several blasts fo hellfire towards the group, causing them to disperse into several directions.

Agatha Harkness, noting that Mephisto was distracted, moved as quickly as her body would allow and went over to the bruised and battered body of Dr. Julia Hoffman.

"Dr. Hoffman, we must get to safety", Agatha told the red haired woman. "Come... move with me, quickly."

And the two women quickly fled the scene of battle that raged around them.

**

Meanwhile, back at Collinwood...

Willie Loomis explained once more to Captain America what had happened and how his employers, Quentin and Barnabas Collins, along with the witch Agatha Harkness and the two Avengers, the Scarlet Witch and Mantis, plus Mantis's son, Phillip, had all vanished when they attempted to summon the spirit of their departed friend, Dr. Julia Hoffman.

"It sounds like they were abducted by some supernatural menace", Captain Amercia exclaimed as he looked around the room at his fellow Avengers, Iron Man, The Vision, Firestar, Justice and the Norse thunder god, Thor.

"I sense an aura of magic about this domain", Thor commented.

"But that could just as easily have come from Wanda or Miss Harkness", Justice remarked.

"Indeed", Thor admitted. "But it is an aura most foul, so I believe not."

"My sensors aren't picking up anything", Iron Man scowled, "but then again, when we're dealing with magic, that's to be expected."

"Mr. Loomis, once more, what did Dr. Druid say when you spoke to him on the telephone?", the Vision asked Willie.

"I told him that I called you guys, just like Quentin told me. And he said to tell you not to do anything until he gets here with the other Avengers. The one's in Europe". Willie answered.

"We'll give them a few more minutes", Captain America remarked. "And then, we'll have to act on our own. Thor, can you trace the source of this magic using your hammer?"

"I believe so", Thor answered.

"Firestar, keep trying to contact the European team on the radio. I'd like to know their status", Cap said to the young mutant, who was using her communicard to attempt to contact their team-matesf from across the sea.

"I wish Dr. Strange had been home", Cap muttered to himself as he glanced across the room.

"Me too", Iron Man said as he walked up beside Cap. "I really do hate this supernatural stuff."

"So do I, Tony", Cap remarked. "But if Wanda and Mantis are in trouble, we don't have a choice."

"Whatever this is, we'll manage", Iron Man commented.

"I have no doubt about that", Cap agreed. "I just don't like it!"

"Amen to that, Cap. Amen to that!", Tony agreed.

And then, with a loud popping noise and a flashing light, nine figures suddenly appeared in the yard in front of the old house.

"What the...?", Iron Man exclaimed.

"On thy guard, Avengers!", Thor shouted.

And there stood the Avengers International team, The Black Widow, The Black Knight, Spitfire, Hercules, Union Jack, The Gargoyle, Ms. Marvel, their new associate, Kori and Dr. Druid, teleported by the powers of Excaliber member, Amanda Sefton, also known as Spellbinder.

"Ummm... I think we can let that guard down", Justice quipped as he recognized the newcomers.

"Greetings, my fellow Avengers", Thor said as he too recognized the new arrivals.

The Black Widow and Dr. Druid stepped forward to confer with Captain America as the rest of the heroes assembled greeted one another and introductions were made for Kori to the rest of the Avengers.

"Thanks again for the assist, Amanda", Issac spoke to the blond haired heroine who had teleported the Avengers International team across the ocean from their castle in England to the front lawn of Collinport.

"Wow, that was quite a load", Amanda remarked. "I've never carried so many people at one time before and so far."

"Are you OK?", Issac asked, concerned.

"I'm fine", Amanda answered. "Just a little winded."

"I hate it that we keep having to ask for help like this", Issac smiled. "The way we keep calling you, people are going to talk."

"Let them", Amanda smiled. "And now, if that's all, I'm going to head back to Muir and into a long hot bath."

"I believe that's all", Issac said. "We'll take it from here and see if we can figure out what's happened to the others."

Issac gave Amanda a hug and with a smile and a wave at the others, Amanda Sefton used her magical powers to vanish in a flash of light as she teleported back to her home with Excaliber.

After saying his farewells to Amanda, Issac walked over and joined the rest of the assembled Avengers, where Captain America and The Black Widow were giving a briefing.

"As near as we can tell, Wanda, Mantis, Jacques and the Collins have been abducted by supernatural means", Captain America spoke.

"Don't forget Agatha Harkness too", Sharon Ventura added.

"Druid and Thor are combining their powers in an effort to trace the magic that caused our friends to vanish", the Widow added, taking up where the Captain had left off.

"Any idea who might be behind the abduction?", Firestar asked.

"Not really, but I think it's safe to assume that they're extremely powerful, given that they were able to take Miss Harkness, Wanda and Mantis unaware", the Widow answered.

"Mayhaps we should attempt to recreate the events that led to our comrades abduction", Hercules sugested.

"That might work", Issac agreed. "And could allow us to be teleported just as they were."

"Too risky", Cap said. "Rather than allowing us to help them, it could just end up trapping us as well instead."

"Any other suggestions?", the Widow asked.

"Until we know exactly who we're dealing with, our options are limited", Iron Man remarked.

"Well, we need to find out quickly", the Black Knight interjected. "Wanda and the others may need us!"

And suddenly, a ball of light appeared and drifted around before landing and taking shape.

"Jacques?", the Widow said as she moved and caught the young man who fell, weakly from the glimmering sphere.

"Who is thou youth?", Thor asked.

"That's right. Some of you have never met him yet. This is Jacques, Mantis's son", the Widow answered.

"Jacques?", Iron Man said. "Named after the Swordsman."

"Jacques is a long-range teleporter, as well as an empath and telepath", the Widow explained. "He must have escaped from wherever Mantis and the others are being held:"

"Mephisto", Jacques muttered weakly. "It was all a trap for Quentin and Barnabas by Mephisto. He has them all captive. We must..."

And Jacques passed out, the strain of his long teleport taking it's toll.

"He's fine. He's just passed out from exhaustion", the Widow said as she quickly examined him.

"So it's Mephisto", the Knight said. "We should have guessed."

"It makes sense that Mephisto would desire to claim the souls of persons like Barnabas and Quentin", Issac agreed.

"And Wanda, Miss Harkness and Mantis would just be a big bonus for him", Sharon Ventura added.

"I've read about Mephisto in the Avenger's files", Justice remarked. "He's like the devil, right?"

"He is a most foul and evil creature indeed", Thor remarked. "The embodiment of all that is evil. His powers rivals that of even thy All-Father, Odin himself."

"Thy evil deeds are too numerable to even begin to describe", Hercules added. "His treachery knows no bounds or limits!"

"And we're going to take on this guy?", Kori asked.

"Indeed we are", Captain America answered. "For all of his powers, Mephisto can be beaten. And now that we know where they are, we can go rescue our friends."

"But how do we get there... to Mephisto's realm?", Kori asked.

"Perhaps the boy, Jacques, can teleport us?", Iron Man said.

"I say thee nay", Thor interjected. "Thy boy is weak from exhaustion and shall stay here to recover. I place him in thy care, Willie Loomis."

"Sure thing, Mister Thor", Willie said nervously. "I'll take care of Jacques and make sure he gets better."

"As for the rest of us, we only need the power of thy hammer, Mjolnir, to take us to Mephisto's foul realm", Thor said. "For it is a place that I am most familiar."

"Sounds like a plan", the Knight commented.

"But once we get there, Avengers", Captain America said. "Our goal is not to take on Mephisto. We're to rescue our friends and get out, ASAP!"

"Why not take on Mephisto?", Kori asked. "Is he that powerful. You remarked that he can be beaten."

"He can, but it's not easy. Most of his defeats in the past were through out-smarting him or just dumb luck. He's far too powerful to take on directly without risking some of us being seriously hurt or even killed. I don't want to take that chance", Cap said.

"This is strictly a rescue situation", the Widow added. "Our objective is to free our friends and escape. Is that clear!"

"Very clear", Union Jack spoke up as the others nodded their agreement.

"One other thing", Captain America spoke up. "This is strictly a volunteer mission and if anyone doesn't want to go, just say so and they can opt out of this mission."

"Cap, we're all Avengers. I think I speak for all of us when I say that those are our friends in trouble. I'm going", Issac said.

"As am I", Union Jack added.

"As are we all", the Knight said as he glanced around at the group.

"Well, I'm not an Avenger... yet", Kori spoke up. "But you have welcomed me into your home and offered me friendship and if you will have me as part of your group, I too will be proud to participate."

"Here... here", Spitfire commented.

"So what's the battle plan, Captain?", Dr. Druid asked as he stepped up to the Avenger's chairman.

"Well, I think we should split up into two groups", Captain America answered. "Let's everyone gather around and listen up."

**

Meanwhile, back in Mephisto's domain...

Barnabas, Quentin, Mantis and The Scarlet Witch are fighting hard against the demon forces commanded by Mephisto. Meanwhile, the witch Agatha Harkness has fled with Dr. Julia Hoffman and is sheltering the bewildered woman against the powers of Mephisto.

"What is happening here? Was that Barnabas? And Quentin?", Julia asked Agatha as the elderly lady pulled her into a small crevice and used her magic powers to shield the doorway.

"Yes, my dear", Agatha told the Doctor. That is indeed Barnabas Collins and his cousin, Quentin out there. We've come to rescue you."

"Rescue me?", Julia muttered. "But I... oh Lord, I'm dead. I had cancer... I remember!"

Julia broke down sobbing.

"There, there, dear", Agatha consoled the distraught lady. "What do you remember? Tell me... you said you had cancer and died. Do you remember that?"

"Yes", sobbed Julia.

"And then what?", Agatha asked. "This is very important."

"I remember that I died, and Barnabas was there. He held me as I slipped away", Julia remembered.

"And what else?", Agatha asked.

"Then there was a light, a bright red light and this man... he was so... evil. I remember being tortured again and again and just praying for it to quit."

"Anything else?", Agatha asked.

"After a while, I just became numb and I guess that he, Mephisto, became bored with me. He seemed to forget about me until recently, and then he used me to lure... to lure Barnabas and Quentin here.", Julia sobbed.

"We're here now and we're going to help you. We're going to escape", Agatha consoled the woman. "But I need to know one more thing. Did you sign a pact or make a deal to save Barnabas?"

"You mean back when...", Julia sobbed. "There was this man and he promised me that he could save Barnabas... remove the curse."

"Did you sign any kind of agreement or make any type of deal?", Agatha asked.

"Yes", Julia remembered. "I told him I'd do anything if he'd remove the curse on Barnabas. Then Barnabas seemed to be getting better and I got cancer and... is he? Is Barnabas cured?"

"No", Agatha said. "So the man did not live up to his end of the deal and in my opinion, has no hold on you here."

"Is that important?", Julia asked.

"It means that we can save you and there isn't anything Mephisto can do about it, since he never upheld his end of your deal to start with", Agatha explained.

"So what do we do now?", Julia asked as she pulled herself together.

"We reunite with the others and go home", Agatha said somberly.

"How do we do that", Julia asked. "We're safe here, but if we go back out there, the demons and Mephisto will overtake us."

"We have the powers of right on our side", Agatha smiled. "And I have powers of my own that are not to be taken lightly. Now, let us go find the others. Are you ready?"

Wiping the tears from her face, Julia smiled and stood up straight and proud. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Agatha smiled and with a wave of her hand, removed the magic sphere that had been shielding and hiding them from detected.

"Come on", Agatha smiled as she took Julia by the arm and led her back towards where the others were fighting Mephisto and his demons.

**

Meanwhile, the battle continued between Mephisto and the foursome of the Scarlet Witch, Mantis, Barnabas Collins and Quentin Collins.

"This one can fight off these demon", Mantis said as she used her martial arts prowess to send two attacking demon minions flying, "but only you have the powers necessary to tackle Mephisto, Wanda."

The Scarlet Witch agreed with a nod and her brow knitted in concentration as she sent hex bolt after hex bolt at Mephisto, attempting to keep him off guard.

Meanwhile, Quentin Collins, in his wolfman form, slashed and ripped away at the attacking demons.

Barnabas Collins was also using his vampiric strength, as well as some judo skills, to battle some of the offensive creatures.

Mephisto sneered as he sent blast after blast of hellfire at his foes, laughing with an evil roar.

"We can't keep this up for long", Barnabas shouted. "We need to get Julia and flee!"

"Where is Julia? And Agatha, for that matter?", Quentin shouted back.

"This one saw them head down that cavern at the back of this chamber", Mantis replied. "Agatha was removing the doctor from the scene of battle."

"I suggest that we follow them", Wanda said as she used her hex powers to create a huge chasm of space between the attacking demons. "I've created a path, so let's head for that cavern and attempt to catch up with them.

As Wanda, Mantis, Quentin and Barnabas fought their way to the cavern's opening, from the other side, Agatha Harkness and Dr. Hoffman made their way back towards the main chamber.

"What do we do if we get there", Julia asked Agatha as the elderly woman used her powers to sweep away several demons that had ventured too close to them.

"If we can all get together, I'll cast a spell to teleport us... all of us, back to Collinwood", Agatha said.

"You have that kind of power", Julia asked.

"It's not an easy spell and I'll need Wanda's help to make it work", Agatha said. "But yes, I can do it!"

"There's the opening back to the chamber", Julia pointed as they approached the doorway that led back to Mephisto's arena.

As Agatha and Julia stepped through the doorway, they were vanished.

Meanwhile, Quentin, Barnabas, Wanda and Mantis also fought their way through the demons and creatures and made it to the opening they sought to reach. The four heroes stepped through the doorway and instantly vanished.

Mephisto, observing all of this from his perch, laughed loudly.

"And now, my foolish little foes , let's see how you fare in the Arena of Lost Souls!"